Wagon-scale



. 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. G. 85 A. L. CLAWSON (No Model.)

Patented Feb. 18, 1896'.

E A G S .N 0 G A W Lima; G. Glqcwaow drdfiflill Clawzson/ (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet a.

L. G. 81; A. L. CLAWSON.

WAGON SCALE.

All DIIW lGIlANAM.PMOTB-UTHQWASHINGTUN. 0.6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINUS o. CLAWSON AND ABRAM L. CLAWSON, or PLEASANT nILL, MISSOURI.

WAGON-SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,983, dated February 18, 1896.

Application filed January 9, 1895. Serial No. 534,322. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LINUS G. CLAWSON and ABRAM L. CLAWSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Pleasant Hill, in the county of Cass and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful W'agon -Scale, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wagon-scales; and it has for its object to provide new and useful platform-scales of this character which shall be extremely strong and durable, while at the same time sufficiently sensitive to provide for accurately weighing loaded wagons and the like.

In the attainment of these objects the in vention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a platform Wagon-scale constructed in'accordance with this invention, a portion of the platform being removed to expose the interior of the scale-frame. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the scale at one side of the center thereof. Fig. Sis a central vertical transverse sectional view of'the scale. Fig. 4: is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 4 f of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in perspective of one corner of the scaleframe, showing more clearly the construction and connection of the side and end bars of the scale-frame. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the hanger connections between the end rock-shafts, the end bars of the frame, and the transverse supportingbars for the platform beams or joists. Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail in perspective, showing the bearing connections between the main and cross scale-levers. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing the check-rod connection between one of the platform beams or joists at one end of the scale-frame. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail elevation of the construction of scale-beam employed in connection with the scale. Fig. 10 is a detail in perspective of one of the eccentric-bearing clamps and the portion of the tubular rock-shaft 011 which the same is fitted. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of the collar connection between the scale-levers and rock-shafts. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view on the line 12 12 of Fig. 4:.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a rectangular scale-frame consisting of the parallel connected side and end bars 2 and 3, respectively. The parallel side bars, 2, are preferablyformed in sections 2, which sections are provided at their inner meeting ends with the abutting flanges 4:, connected by the clamp-bolts 5 for securing the sections 2 firmly together and in longitudinal alignment to complete strong side bars, 2, for the frame, and both the side bars,

2, and the end bars, 3, at the corners of the frame where they meet are provided with angularly-disposed abutting end flanges 6, that are connected by the clamp-bolts 7, which provide means for connecting the side and end bars together at the corners of the frame. The side and end bars of the frame 1 are preferably made of cast-iron, and each of said bars comprises upper and lower horizontal flanges 8 and an intermediate skeleton Web or rib 9, connecting said flanges, and which provides for not only bracing and strengthening the bars, but at the same time provides a light construction of bar, and at this point it is to be noted that the end bars, 3, which sustain the greater portion of the weight that is placed on the scale, are made of heavier castings than the side bars, 2, and are additionally provided between the upper and lower flanges 8 thereof with a series of integral vertical braces 10.

The construction of frame just described is both strong and light, and the end bars, 3, of said frame are provided near the corners of the frame with the integral depending hangerhooks 11, that are projected integrally from the under side of the upper flange 8 of the said end bars and loosely receive the upper rounded ends of the swinging hanger-clevises 12. The hanger-clevises 12, that are loosely suspended from the hooks 11 at the ends of the frame, are provided at their lower ends with the horizontal integral bearing-bars 13, provided with concave d upper sides 14, having tempered-steel bearing-faces 15 to receive thereon one of the knife-edge bearings of the transverse tubular rock-shafts 16, that are arranged within the frame 1 at opposite ends thereof adjacent to the inner sides of the end bars, 3.

The transverse tubular rock-shafts 16 are made of wrought-iron so as to be sufficiently light for the purpose of the scale, while at the same time sufficiently strong to withstand the strain that is placed thereon, and said end rock-shafts 16 are projected at one end beyond on e side of the frame 1 through the open spaces of the skeleton web or rib 9 of one of the side bars, 2, of the frame, and the said rock-shafts 16 have secured thereon near the opposite side bars of the frame the eccentric-bearing clamps 17. The eccentric-bearing clamps 17 consist of separate sections 18, provided with semicircular collar portions 19, snugly embracing the shaft 16 and provided at their upper and lower edges with abutting clampfianges 20 to receive the clamp-bolts 21 for rigidly fastening the collar portions of the clamp-sections on the rock-shafts, and in order to provide for additionally securing the said bearing-clamps on the rock-shafts to prevent the turning thereof on said shafts transverse fastening-bolts 22 are passed transversely through the rock shafts 16 and through the opposite collar portions 19 of the clamp-sections 18.

The clam p-sections 18 of the eccentric-bearing clamps 17 are provided with the otfsta-nding bearing-lugs 22, in which are fitted the steelknife-edge bearings 23, and the offstanding bearing-lugs 22 of each eccentric-bearing clamp 17 are reversely disposed and arranged opposite to each other in upper and lower parallel planes respectively, and the knife-edge bearings 23 of the upperor outer bearing-lugs 22 of said eccentric-bearing clamps are adapted to rest on the bearin g-bars 13 of the hangerclevises 12 to provide a knife-edge eccentricbearing support for the rock-shafts 16, and said upper and outer bearin g-lu gs 22 work inside of the hangcr-clevises 12.

lVhile the offstanding bearinglugs of each eccentric-bearing clamp 17 are projected from opposite sides of the clamp in parallel planes, it is to be noted that the points or bearing edges of the opposite knife-edge bearings 23 are disposed in precise horizontal alignment or in the same horizontal plane, and the knife-edge bearings 23 of the clamps 17, that are located on the inner lugs 22 at the inner side of the shaft 16, are adapted to pivotally support thereon the hanger-stirrups 24.

The hanger-stirrups 2. are of substantially the same construction as the hanger-clevises 12, but are reversely disposed with respect to said clevises, and are provided at their upper ends with the integral horizontal bearingbars 24, having concaved lower sides 25,1'esting on the knife-edge bearings 23, directly thereunder. The lower rounded ends of the hanger-stirrups 24, that are suspended 011 the inner knife-edge bearings of the eccentricbearing clamps are pivotallyconnected to the upper sides of the transverse supporting-bars 26 by means of the flanged clip-plates 27 bolted to the bars 26 by means of suitable bolts 27. The transverse supporting-bars 26, that are loosely suspended from the inner sides of the rock-shafts 16 by means of the connections described, are arranged transversely within opposite ends of the frame below and at the inner sides of the said rock shafts 16, and the said supporting-bars 26 form supports for the opposite ends of the longitudinally-arranged platform beams or joists 28.

The platform beams or jois s 28 are arranged parallel to each other within the frame 1, and may be arranged in any desired number to provide for the support of the platformflooring 29, that is secured on the upper edges of the beams or joists 28, and forms the usual platform of the scale, and which is of a size that registers Within the top part of the frame 1.

The longitudinal platform supporting beams or joists 28 are formed of suitable lengths of timber and are provided with the rounded ends 30, conforming to the curvature of the shafts 16, so as not to interfere with the movement of such shafts, and the opposite ends of the beams or joists 28, that rest on the opposite transverse supportingbars 26, are firmly secured on said bars by means of the bolts 31, that are passed through the ends of the joists, the bars 26, and the end planks of the platform-flooring 2!), and this connection between the platform beams or joists and the supporting-bars 26 is additionally strengthened by means of suitable diagonal braces 32, secured in position between the parallel joists and the bars 26 and the portion of the platform-flooring immediately thereabovc.

At one end one of the platform beams or joists 28 has pivotally connected to one side thereof, as at 33, the inner end of a checkrod 3- which is provided with a looped outer end 35, loosely engaging over a stop-lug 236, projected integrally from the lower side of one of the end bars, 3, of the frame to provide means, together with the check-rod, for limiting the longitudinal vibration or swing of the platform, and preventing it from swinging too far, so as to affect or injure the weighing devices, as will be readily understood.

The ends of the rock-shafts 16, that are projected beyond one side of the frame 1, have fitted thereon the outer ends of the main scalelevers 37. The main scale-levers 37 are arranged parallel with one of the side bars of the frame 1 on the outside of the frame, and at their outer ends the said scale-levers 37 are provided with the sectional clamp-collars 38, that are adapted to be seen rely bolted onto the projected extremities of the shaft 16, and to insure a rigid connection between. the levers 37 and the shafts 16 transverse fasten in g- TOO IIO

bolts 39 are passed transversely through the ends of the shafts 16 and the sectional clampcollars 38 at the outer ends of said main scalelevers.

The main scale-levers 37 are T-shaped in cross-section and are tapered from their outer to their inner ends, and at their inner ends, at one side of the transverse center of the frame 1, the said scale-levers 37 are provided with reversely-bent inner bearing-ends 40, provided on their under sides with the bearing-studs 41, which bear on the upper sides of the separate horizontal bearing-plates 42, that are fitted within an inverted-U-shaped loop 43, having bolt-extremities 44. The horizontal bearing-plates 42 are spaced from each other, so that the bearing-studs 41 of each scale-lever 37 will bear on a separate bearingplate, and at this point it is to be noted that the inner bearing ends 40 of the opposite scale-levers are disposed one above the other, so as to be arranged within the loop 43, over the bearing-plates 42 therein. The upper rounded end of the loop 43 is suspended from the lower rounded end of the stirrup 45, that loosely embraces the cross scale-lever 46, arranged at one side of the frame 1 directly in a line with the center of such frame. The upper side of the stirrup 45 bears on the intermediate knife-bearing edge 46, arranged at an intermediate point on the upper side of the said crosslever, and said lever is further provided on its under side at both its opposite ends with the end knife-bearing edges 48. The knife-bearin g edge 48 at the inner end of the lever 46 is arranged to bear on the lower side of a hanger-stirrup 49, the up per rounded end of which loosely engages a depending hanger-hook 50, projected downwardly from the upper side of an arched bearing-bracket 51, provided with a lower flanged end 52, that is bolted centrally on the upper side of one of the side frame-bars, 2, of the frame 1 to provide for the pivotal support of the inner end of the lever 46 at one side and the center of the frame 1.

The cross scale-lever 46 is necessarily disposed above the inner ends of the levers 37, that are connected therewith through the medium of the bearing connections described, and the knife-bearing edge or stud 48 at the outer end of said lever 46 is adapted to bear on the bearing plate or bar 53 at the lower side of the stirrup 54, to which stirrup is pivotally connected, as at 55, the lower end of a connecting-rod 56, the upper end of which is pivotally connected with the scale-beam 57, that is mounted pivotally on the supportingpost 58, arranged within the scale-beam casing 59. v

The scale-beam casing 59 is supported at its bottom on the upper ends of the upwardly and outwardly curved skeleton bracket-arms 60, that'are provided at their inner lower ends with the flat attaching-plates 61, that receive the bolts 62 for securing said plates 61 to one side of one of the side bars, 2, of the frame 1,

thereby providing a strong, yet detachable, connection between the offstanding bracketarms and the frame 1. The offstanding bracket-arms 60 are provided near their lower ends, at one side of the frame 1, With the integral depending rest-feet 63,that are adapted to rest on the foundation of the scale and brace the bracket-arms 60, so as to prevent the same from being ridden down or the side frame twisted, and at their upper lower corners the said bracket-arms 60 are provided with the squared openings 64 to receive the inner ends of guard-planks 65, the outer ends of which are bolted by means of the bolts 66 on the upper fiat sides 67 of the offstanding bracket-plates 67, that are bolted by means of the bolt 68 to one of the side bars, 2, at the opposite ends thereof, and these guardplanks protect the scale-levers from falling objects and the like, as will be readily understood.

The scale-beam casing 59, that is supported on the bracket-arms 60 at one side and above the frame 1, is provided at one side with a glass panel 69, which is sufficiently large to expose the scale-beam, so that readings can be made from the seat on the wagon while being weighed, and on the side opposite the glass panel 69 the scale-beam casing 59 is provided with a door 70, which when opened is adapted to lie in a horizontal position, as illustrated in the drawings, to form a shelf or table for books, papers, and the like, em ployed in taking down the readings from the scale-beam.

1n the present inventionthe scale-beam 57 is constructed as plainly illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings, and the said scale-beam consists of a main pivoted casting 71, that is supported on the post 58 and has connected therewith the rod 56, and at one end the pivoted casting 71 is provided'with an enlarged integral counterbalancing-weight 72, that is sufficiently heavy to substantially balance the entire scale-beam and the platform of the scale. At the end opposite its counterbalancingweight 72 the pivoted casting 71 of the scalebeam has secured thereto, as at 73, one end of the lower scale-bar, 74, on which slides the scale-weight 75, that is int-ended to weigh hundreds of pounds, as indicated by the scale on the said bar 74, and the free end of the lower scale-bar, 7 4, is arranged to Work in the stationary bifurcated post 76, fitted within the casing 59 and having pivotally mounted at the upperend thereof a latch 77, that provides means for locking the scale beam against movement When not is use, as is usual.

The scale-beam casting 71 has projected from its upper side oppositely-located upright posts 78, on the upper ends of which is mounted an upper scale-bar, 79, that is disposed parallel with the lower scale-bar, 7 4, and the portion of the scale-bar 79 directly above the casting 71, between the posts 78, is provided with graduations and accommodates thereon a sliding scale-weight 80, which provides for weighing the added pounds from five to two hundred.

The upper scale-bar, 79, of the scale-beam is extended beyond one end of the casting 71, directly over and parallel with the bar 7 f, and at a point adjacent to the outer moving end of the bar 74: one end of the bar 79 is connected to and supported above the bar 74 by a flanged brace connection 81, bolted to one end of the bar 79 and to the upper side of the bar 7-l. An adjustable balance-weight S2 is mounted to slide on the ungraduated portion of the bar 79, between the brace 81 and one end of the scale-beam casting 71, and provides means, by its accurate adjustment, for balancing the stock-rack, wagon or other vehicle before the load is placed therein, so that the readings of the scale-weights will be net.

From the above it will be obvious that when a wagon or other unweighted object is placed on the platform of the scale said weight 82 will. adjust the weighing devices herein described so as to operate upon the scale-beam to provide for an accurate weighing, while at the same time it is to be noted that the construction of the weighing devices is light, simple, strong and positive in operation.

Changes in. the form, proportion and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a platform scale, the rectangular scale-frame consisting of opposite parallel side and end bars provided at their ends with an gularly-disposed abutting end flanges, said side bars consisting of separate aligned sections flanged together, and each of said side and end bars comprising upper and lower horizontal flanges and an intermediate skeleton web or rib connecting said flanges, and the end bars being additionally provided with a series of integral vertical braces, bolts connecting said abutting end flanges, and the weighing devices, substantially as set forth.

2. In a platform-scale, the scale-frame pro vided at its opposite ends with depending open hangerhooks, hanger-elevises loosely suspended from said hooks and provided at their lower ends with horizontal concaved bearing-bars, tubular transverse rock-shafts supported within opposite ends of the frame, eecentric-bearing clamps fastened on said shafts and provided with opposite reverselydisposed bearing-lugs carrrying knife-edge bearings and projected from opposite sides of the clamps in parallel planes to dispose the opposite knife-edge bearings in precise horizontal alignment, the outer of said bearinglugs working within the hanger-clevises and having its knife-edge bearing disposed in the concavity of the bearing-bars thereof, the platform suitably supported by the inner of said bearing-lugs, and scale-levers suitably connected with said rock-shafts and a scale beam, substantially as set forth.

In a platform-scale, the scale-frame provided at its opposite ends with depending open hanger-hooks, hangerclevises loosely suspended from said hooks, and provided w ilh horizontal bearing-bars having steel-faced concaved upper sides opposite transverse rock-shafts arranged within opposite ends of the frame, eccentric-bearing clamps fastened on the shaft and provided with oppositelyprojected and reversely-disposed bearinglugs carrying knife-edge bearings disposed in horizontal alignment, the outer of said bearing-lugs resting within said hangencleviscs, and bearing on the steel-faced concaved up per sides of the bearing-bars thereof, transverse supporting-bars arranged entirely below and at one side of the plane of said rockshafts, hanger-stirrups pivotally connected with the upper sides of said supporting-bars, and provided at their upper ends with horizontal bearing-bars resting on the knife-edge bearings of the inner lugs of said clamps, the platform-flooring supported by said. supporting-bars, and scale-levers suitably connected with said rock-shaft and a scale-beam, substantially as set forth.

4. I11 a platform-scale, the scale-frame, loosely-supported transverse rock-shafts arranged within opposite ends of the frame, the platform suitably supported by said rockshafts, main scale-levers fastened at one end to one end of the rock-shafts and arranged outside of the frame and provided at their inner superposed ends with depending bearingstuds, an arched bearing-bracket secured centrally on the upper side of the frame at one side and provided with a depending hanger-hook, a hanger-stirrup suspended from said hanger-hook, a separate cross scalelever disposed at right angles to the main scale-levers and provided on its under side and at its opposite ends, and on its upper side at an intermediate point with knife-bearing edges or studs, the inner end of said crosslever resting in and supported by said hangerstirrup, a suitable scale-beam connection carrying a stirrup receiving the outer end of said cross scale-lever, a stirrup loosely embracing the cross scale-lever and resting on the intermediate knife-edge bearing or stud thereof, and a loop loosely suspended from the stirrup embracing the cross scale-lever and carrying separate parallel bearing-plates respectively supporting the inner ends of the main scale-levers, substantially as set forth.

5. I11 a platform-scale, the rectangular scale-frame, the platform-supporting rockshafts loosely supported transversely within opposite ends of the frame and extended at one end beyond one side of the frame, the main scale-levers arranged outside of the frame and fastened at their outer ends to the extended ends of said rock-shafts, the off standing upwardly-disposed bracket-arms IIO supporting a scale-beam and provided at their upper lower corners with squared openings, lever connections between the inner ends of said seale levers and said scale-beam, offstanding bracket-plates fastened at one side of the scale-frame,aud guard-planks arranged above said scale-levers, the inner ends of said guard-planks fitting the squared openings of said bracket-arms,'and the outer ends of said planks being fastened on said offstanding bracket-plates, substantially as set forth.

6. In a platform-scale,the combination with the scale-frame and the weighing devices; of a pair of ofistandin g upwardly and outwardly curved skeleton bracket-arms fastened at their lower ends to one side of the scale-frame and provided at one side of said scale-frame with integral depending rest-feet, and the scale-beam easing mounted on the upper ends of said bracket-arms, substantially as set forth.

7. In a wagon-scale, the scale-beam consisting of a pivotally-supported casting provided at its opposite ends with short upright posts projected from its upper side, and at one end with a fixed counterbalancing-weight which counterbalances the scale-platform and the scale connections therewith, a lower graduated scale-bar fastened at one end to the end of said casting opposite the counterbalancingweight and carrying a sliding scale-weight, an upper scale-bar supported on said upright posts and having graduations between the posts, said upper bar being provided with an ungraduated portion extended over and parallel with substantially the entire length of the lower scale-bar, a sliding scale-weight mounted to work on the graduated portion of the upper scale-bar between said upright posts of the casting, and an adjustable balance-weight mounted to slide on the ungraduated portion of the upper scale-bar to provide for balancing the scale-beam under all conditions, whereby the readings of the scaleweights will be net, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

LINUS G. CLAWSON. ABRAM L. CLAWSON. Witnesses O. 0. RACE, 0. Gr. THRALLS. 

